Pecos Adventure Camp
St. Stephen's Episcopal School, Wimberley, Texas
April 25–28, 2006

Location
The Pecos Adventure Camp activities were held at the SHUMLA outdoor campus 50 miles west of Del Rio, Texas.  Additional activities took place on the Shumla Ranch, at Galloway/White Shaman preserve, Mile Canyon, Bonfire Shelter, Skiles Shelter, Eagle Cave, Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, and Painted Canyon.

Instructors
SHUMLA instructors included artist/archeologist
Dr. Carolyn Boyd, archeobotanist Dr. Phil Dering, archeologist Elton Prewitt, primitive technologist Nathan Martinez, artisan/flintknapper Steve Norman, artisan/cordage maker Brenda Norman, wildlife specialist/state trapper Tom Glasscock, and storyteller Mike Parker.

Activities
Thirty-one students, with sixteen faculty and parent volunteers from St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Wimberley, Texas, arrived by private coach for a 4-day desert "experience of a lifetime."  This group of adventurous students embraced the desert through music, pictures, and stories.

Wednesday, the three clans, Deer, Panther, and Eagle took different journeys. The Deer Clan began their day traveling to the Galloway/White Shaman Preserve to view the fabulous rock art and prehistoric village there. Lunch was enjoyed in the shaded areas provided at the Galloway site.

The Panther and Eagle clans teamed up to visit Bonfire Shelter in Mile Canyon. A picnic lunch at the plunge pool was followed by a trip to Eagle Cave. All students returned to the Shumla campus in the early afternoon.

The Eagle clan left for Mountain Laurel Shelter to begin their "Rite of Passage" ceremonies. These activities carried special meanings for the participants and similar ceremonies will be eagerly anticipated by future 8^th graders.

Other students began retting lechuguilla leaves to produce the fibers needed for their projects. Dinner was enjoyed and the students had a visit from Judge Roy Bean. Mike Parker, local educator and storyteller, entertained students and teachers alike with his stories about the Judge's life. Students finished the day by working on their fiber technology projects and learning about music from the past.

Thursday morning began with a trip to Seminole Canyon and Fate Bell Shelter for the Deer clan. The Panther and Eagle clans began a "Plant, Scat, and Track" program with Dr. Phil Dering and Tom Glasscock. Dr. Dering led students on a plant walk to identify species found in the Lower Pecos. Mr. Glasscock shared his experience and observations of animal behavior as they relate to Native American myth. Thursday afternoon both students and teachers made cordage, flintknapped, made paint the prehistoric way, learned friction fire starting techniques and worked with looms.

Information
For more information about scheduling an adventure program for your school, contact the education division at education@shumla.org or call the SHUMLA office (432-292-4848).